Fox tv actor Jussie Smollet was released from Cook County jail Wednesday afternoon pending the appeal of his conviction for an alleged false police report some 3 years ago.
Smollett was sentenced to 150 days for a conviction of five felony counts of disorderly conduct although he’s only alleged to made one false filing with the Chicago police department, a agency known for its anti-Black racism and it’s carrying out of Black murders.
In a 2-1 decision the appeals court decided that the Smollett defense had proper grounds for appeal, the most obvious being when considering that the actor’s sentence of 5 months in jail essentially creates a double jeopardy since Smollett and state prosecutor Kim Fox already agreed to the surrendering of a $10,000 bail and completion of community service in return for probation.
“I have never seen, in my entire career as an attorney, and none of the other attorneys here have ever seen a situation in which a class 4 felony gets the same treatment as a violent offense.” said Nenye Uche, a Smollett defense attorney.
Similar to the illegal Cosby prosecution, when considering former agreements made between a Black citizen and the court, magistrates and prosecutors alike have brazenly ignored the law.
Judge James Linn ordered Smollett to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago. He also imposed a $25,000 fine.
“I hope everyone realized that the persecution that went on in that courthouse was absurd.” said Smollett’s attorney Shay Allen.
-Barrington Williams, B1Daily
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